Toy



Nov. 28, 1961 c. PEARSON, JR 3,010,718

TOY

Filed Dec. 19, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 28, 1961 c. PEARSON, JR

TOY

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 19, 1958 Nov. 28, 1961 c. PEARSON, JR3,010,718

TOY

Filed Dec. 19, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent ()fi ice3,010,7 l8 Patented Nov. 28, 1 961 Filed Dec. 19, 1958, Ser. No. 781,53613 Claims. (Ci. 2721) The present invention relates generally to a toy,and particularly to a toy which is operable to produce audible andvisual effects at the command of the operator of the toy.

An object of the present invention is to provide a toy having anoperating mechanism which selectively produces audible and visualefiects. Another object isthe provision of a toy jet plane which isadapted to be maneuvered by a child. Still another object is theprovision of a toy having mechanism for selectively producing a noise,ejecting objects and reciprocating an external member. A further objectof the invention is the provision of a toy of the type described whichcan be economically manufactured and which is durable in use.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent byreference to the following description and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a toy embodying various features of theinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the toy shown in FIG- URE l with portionsbroken away to show the internal operating mechanism;

FIGURE 3 is an end view of the toy shown in FIG- URE 1, looking at itfrom the rear end away from the operator of the toy;

FIGURE 4 is a side View of the toy shown in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, sectional view taken along line 55 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged, sectional view taken along i line 6-6 of FIGURE2;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken along line7--7 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary view, partially in section, takenthrough the control panel shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary view taken along line 99 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a schematic circuit diagram of the toy shown in FIGURES 1through 9;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary view taken along line 1111 of FIGURE 7; and

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged, fragmentary view taken along line 12-12 ofFIGURE 2.

The operating mechanism of the present invention is particularlydesigned to be utilized in a housing which simulates a jet plane. Thecockpit of the jet plane is enlarged and the other parts of the jetplane are propor tioned so that an operator of the toy, by balancing thejet plane on a pair of handles attached thereto, may pretend that he isa jet pilot operating his jet plane through desired flight patterns,such as dog fights, strafings, etc. To enhance the simulation, theoperating mechanism within the housing permits the operator toselectively produce a noise simulating the whine of a jet engine,reciprocate a simulated cannon in the nose of the jet plane whileproducing a. noise simulating the firing of the cannon, and firesimulated rockets from rocket launchers on the wings of the jet plane.

More specifically, the housing 10 shown in the drawings is a fancifulrepresentation of a flying wing type jet plane, which a child canmaneuver as he desires. The housing 10, which may be constructed ofplastic material and in two mating pieces, includes a pair ofinterconnected wings 12 and an exaggerated forward wall of a cockpit 13disposed on the wings 12. The cockpit comprises a control panel 14disposed on the upper surface of the wings 12 adjacent the trailingedges thereof, the control panel 14 having an arcuate upper edge andbeing slanted forwardly. To blend the control panel 14 into the wings12, the housing 10 is provided with a pottion 16, arcuate in transversecross section, which gradually rises from a point behind the apex 18 ofthe wings 12 to the upper edge of the control panel 14. An arouateshaped, transparent Windshield 20, which extends upwardly and rearwardlyfrom the arcuate portion 16 adjacent the upper edge of the control panel14, may be provided to enhance the simulation of a cockpit of a jetplane. A gun sight 22 may also be attached to the top of the arcuateportion 16. Furthermore, a simulated housing for a fuel tank or jetturbine 24 may be provided at the tip of each wing12.

Projecting forwardly from the apex 18 of the wings 12 is a simulatedcannon 26, and from the forward edges of the wings 12, on either side ofthe cannon 26, is a simulated rocket launcher 28 and 29. To enable theoperator to manuever the housing 10 a pair of handles 30 and 31 areprovided which extend downwardly from the lower surface of the wings 12,adjacent the trailing edges thereof. The handles 30 and 31 are locatedin such a position as to balance the housing 10. In the illustratedembodiment the handles 30 and 31 are located slightly to the outside ofthe rocket launchers 28 and 29, respectively.

The housing 10 is preferably proportioned so that the tips of the wings12 extend beyond the shoulders of a child, the cockpit 13 is ofsufiicient size to provide a face shield for the child, and the handles30 and 31 are positioned approximately at the sides of the body of thechild. In this way, by gripping the handles 30 and 31, the child maypretend that he is in the cockpit of a jet plane which he can maneuveras desired.

The simulated whine of the engine of a jet plane is produced by a noiseproducing means 32 disposed inside in the housing 10 on a base plate 34,the base plate 34 being supported above the bottom of the housing bymeans such as a plurality of vertically disposed support pins 36. Asshovm particularly in FIGURE 6, the noise producing means 32 includes aninverted L-shaped reed or vibrator 38, the outer end of which rides uponthe teeth of an intermediate spur gear 40, the other end being suitablymounted to the base plate 34. The shaft 42 of the spur gear 46 isjournaled in an aperture (not shown) in an upstanding leg 44 of theU-shaped bracket 46, which is mounted to the base plate 34 generallyalong the center line between the wings 12. The spur gear 49 is engagedby a pinion gear 48 (FIG. 6) attached to the end of the shaft 50 of anelectric motor 52 which is mounted to the inner surface of the otherupstanding leg 54 of the bracket 46, the motor shaft 50 extendingthrough an aperture (not shown) in the first mentioned upstanding leg 44of the bracket 46. Rotation of the motor 52 causes the spur gear 40 torotate which, in turn, oscillates the vibrator 3-8, thus producing anaudible sound resembling the whine of a jet engine.

The motor 52 is actuated by the closing of armotor switch 56, the switchbeing closed by the depression of a horizontally extending trigger pin58 which is guided by an aperture in the upper portion of the right handhandle 31 (FIG. 7). The motor switch 56, which may be normally open,spring contact type switch, as shown in FIG. 11, is mounted to theunderside of the base plate 3-4 in position to be closed by the forwardmovement of the trigger pin 58.

Electric power for the motor 52 is provided by a pair of dry cellbatteries 62 and 64, connected in series, which switch 82 mounted on thecontrol panel 14.

' 34 by a bracket 107 or the like, (FIG. 2).

are carried in tubular containers 66 and 68 respectively, that extendinwardly from the simulated control panel 14, as shown in FIG. 8. Thebatteries 62 and 64 are inserted into the containers 66 and 68 inalternate directions, and are connected in series by a common springcont-act 70 attached to a removable portion 72 of the control panel 14.The spring contact 70 urges the other end of the batteries .62 and 64against a pair of button contacts 74 and 76, respectively, extendingthrough the closed endsof the cylindrical containers 66 and 68.

V In the illustrated embodiment, the button contact 74 on the left-handcontainer 66 is connected electrically .through a conductor 78 to themotor -2, and the button contact 76 on the right-hand container 68 isconnected electrically through a conductor 80 to a key operated Theswitch 82, in turn, is connected through a conductor 84 to the motorswitch 56, the motor switch 56 being connected by a conductor 86 to themotor 52.

The key operated switch 82 as shown particularly in FIGS. 8 and 9,includes a cylindrical insert 88, a reduced diameter portion (not shown)of which is journaled in a suitable aperture (not-shown) in the controlpanel 14, the cylindrical insert 88 having a slot 99 therein which isadapted to receive a key 92. Mounted on the rear of the control panel 14is the normally open, spring contact type key switch 82, which is insuch a relationship to the key 92 that, when the key 92 is vertical, theswitch 82 is open and, when the key 92 is in a horizontal position, theswitch 82 is closed. Since the key operated switch 82 and the motorswitch 56 are in series, both switches must be closed to actuate themotor 52.

The motor 52 is also utilized to reciprocate the simulated cannon 26 inthe apex 18 of the housing 10, and to produce an explosive sound tothereby simulate the firing of the cannon 26. The cannon 26 includes aninner member 94 having a cylindrical shank 96 which is guided for axialmovement by a tubular outer member 98, the outer member 98 beingattached to the apex 18 of the housing 10.

When it is desired to reciprocate the cannon 2-6, the operator of thetoy pushes a forwardly extending trigger pin 100, which is guided by anaperture 102 in the upper portion of the left-hand handle 30. The innerend of the trigger pin 109 is connected to a downwardly extending ear104 of an L-shaped slide 106, the slide 106 being guided for forwardmovement on the base plate The slide 106 is biased in a rearwarddirection by a coil spring 110 disposed in an enlarged portion 111 ofthe aperture 102 in co-axial relationship with the trigger pin 180, thespring 110 bearing upon a disc 114 which is fixedly attached to thetrigger pin 100 near its rearward end. The forward end of the slide 106is provided with a'cam surface 108 which, when the slide 106 is movedforwardly, moves under a generally horizontally extending arm 113 of abell crank 112, (FIG. 12), the bell crank 112 being pivotally mounted tothe base plate 34 by a suitable means. The upper arm 114 of the bellcrank 112 bears upon the end of an eccentric shaft 116 which isjournaled in apertures (not shown) in the upstanding legs 44 and 54 ofthe U-shaped bracket 46 forwardly of the intermediate spur gear 40. Theeccentric shaft 116 is biased so as to oppose the transverse movementcaused by the rotationof the bell crank 112 by a leaf spring 118 bearingon the opposite end of the shaft 116, the leaf spring 118 being suitablymounted to the base plate 34.

When the bell crank 112 is rotated by the slide 106, the eccentric shaft116 is moved transversely and a spur gear 120 fixedly mounted to theshaft 116 adjacent the end upon which the bell crank 112 bears, engagesa pinion gear 122 fixedly mounted to the shaft 42 of the intermediatespur gear 40. Thus, if the intermediate spur gear 40 is being rotated bythe motor 52, the eccentric shaft 116 is rotated, thereby reciprocatingthe inner member 94 of the cannon 26, the inner end of which is linkedto the eccentric shaft by a connecting rod 124. The connecting rod 124is provided with an eye 126 at its rearward end which isrotatablyrnounted to the eccentric portion of the eccentric shaft 116,and a hook portion 128 at its forward end which is inserted into atransversely extending aperture 129 in the rearward end of the innermember 94 of the cannon 26.

To produce the noise simulating the firing of the cannon, a reed orvibrator 130 is disposed in such a position as to be actuated by a camportion 131 on the eccentric shaft 116. The vibrator 130' is mounted tothe lower wall of the housing 10, which in cooperation with the otherwalls of the housing 10 define a sounding chamber that amplifies thevibration of the vibrator 130;

In the illustrated embodiment, the simulated rocket launchers 28 and 29are disposed in forwardly extending relationship, on either side of thecannon 26. Each includes (FIG. 5) a tube or barrel 132 adapted toreceive the cylindrical shank 134 of a rocket 136. The barrel 132 is intwo axially aligned sections 138 and 140, the

forward section 138 being attached to the housing 10,

and the rearward section 140 being attached to the top of the base plate34. A propulsion spring 142 for ejecting the rocket 136 from the barrel132 is disposed within the rearward section 140, the rear end of thepropulsion spring 142 being suitably attached to the rear end closurewall 144 of the rear section 140.

The shank 134 of the rocket 136 is of proper diameter to slide freely inthe barrel 132, and is of such a length that when the rocket 136 ispushed manually into the barrel 132 so as to sufficiently compress thepropulsion spring 142, the rear head 146 of the rocket 136 will reach aposition such that the shoulder 148 surrounding the neck 15% of therocket 136 will pass behind the edge of an upstanding latch portion 152of a generally L- shaped trigger 154. The latch portion 152, whichextends upwardly through a suitable slot 156 out in the base plate 34and the wall of the barrel 132, is the forward terminal end of aforwardly extending arm 158 of the L-shaped trigger 154. The trigger 154ispivoted to a pair of ears 160 which extend downwardly from the baseplate 34, forwardly of the position of the handle 30. The arm 158 of thetrigger 154 is biased upwardly by an urging means such as a leaf spring162 attached to the bottom of the housing 19.

The other arm 164 of the trigger 154ex tends downwardly through a slot166 in the handle 30 to a convenient position in advance of the handle30 so that the operator of the rocket launcher 28 may pull the trigger154 rearwardly to release the rocket 136. The forwardly extending arm158 is suitably offset to position the latch portion 152 in the slot 156in the barrel 132 and base plate 34.

From the above it can be seen that the operator while maneuvering thetoy may selectively produce the whine of the jet engine by pushing theright trigger pin 58, simulate the firing of the cannon 26 in the apexof the housing 10 by pushing the left trigger pin 100, and launch therockets 136 by pulling the trigger'154 on the associated handles 30 and31.

Various changes can be made in the above described toy without departingfrom the scope of the invention. Various of the features of theinvention are set forth in the following claims;

I claim:

1. A toy comprising a housing, means .on said housing defining the wingsof a jet plane, the tips of which extend beyond the shoulders of theoperator of the toy, means on said housing defining a cockpit of a jetplane which is of sufficient size to provide a face shield for theoperator, a pair of spaced apart handles extending downwardly from saidhousing in such positions as to balance the housing whereby the operatormay maneuver the toy, means on said housing defining a reciprocatingsimulated cannon extending from said housing, means on said housing forreciprocating said cannon, means on said housing for producing a soundsimulating a firing sound incident to the reciprocation of said cannon,means on said housing for producing a sound simulating the whine of ajet engine, and means on said housing for selectively activating saidcannon reciprocating means and said whine producing means.

2. A toy comprising a housing, means on said housing defining the wingsof a jet plane, the tips of which extend beyond the shoulders of theoperator of the toy, means on said housing defining a cockpit of a jetplane which is of sufficient size to provide a face shield for theoperator, a pair of handles extending downwardly from said housing insuch positions as to balance the housing whereby the operator maymaneuver the toy, a reciprocating simulated cannon extending forwardlyfrom said housing, means on said housing for reciprocating said cannon,means on said housing for producing a sound simulating a firing soundincident to the reciprocation of said cannon, means on said housing forproducing a sound simulating the whine of a jet engine, means on saidhousing defining a rocket launcher extending forwardly from said wings,and means on said housing for selectively actuating said cannonreciprocating means, said whine producing means, and said rocketlauncher.

3. A toy comprising a housing, means on said housing defining the wingsof a jet plane, the tips of which extend beyond the shoulders of theoperator of the toy, means defining a cockpit of a jet plane which is ofsufficient size to approximately shield the face of the operator, a pairof spaced apart downwardly extending handles on said housing, areciprocable simulated cannon extending from Said wings, means carriedby said housing for producing a sound simulating the whine of a jetengine, means on said housing for axially reciprocating said cannon,means on said housing for producing a sound simulating a firing noiseincident to the reciprocation of said cannon, and means on said handlesfor selectively activating said cannon reciprocating means and saidwhine producing means.

4. A toy comprising a housing, means on said housing defining the wingsof a jet plane, the tips of which extend beyond the shoulders of theoperator of the toy, means on said housing defining a cockpit which isof such a size as to provide a shield for the face of the operator, apair of spaced apart downwardly extending handles on said body, meansdefining a reciprocating simulated cannon extending forwardly from saidhousing, means defining a rocket launcher extending forwardly from saidwings, means carried by said housing for producing a sound simulatingthe Whine of a jet engine, means operated by said whine producing meansfor reciprocating said cannon, means on said housing for producing asound simulating a firing noise incident to the reciprocation of saidcannon, means on said housing adapted to eject a rocket from said rocketlauncher, and manually actuated means on said handles for selectivelyactivating said whine producing means, said cannon reciprocating means,and said rocket ejecting means.

5. A toy jet plane comprising a housing provided with a reciprocablemember extending forwardly therefrom and a base plate mounted on saidhousing, means on said housing for producing a sound effect, means onsaid housing for reciprocating said member including a shaft which hasan eccentric portion and is journaled on said base plate, driving meansmounted on said base plate, the shaft being axially movable between anonoperating position and an operating position in which the shaft is inengagement with said driving means, urging means biasing said shafttoward said non-operating position, a rod connecting the eccentricportion of said shaft to said member, and manually actuated means formoving said shaft to said operating position, and means on said housingfor producing a noise incident to the operation of said reciprocatingmeans.

6. A toy jet plane comprising a housing provided with a reciprocablemember extending forwardly therefrom and a base plate mounted on saidhousing, means on said housing for producing a sound effect, means onsaid housing for reciprocating said member including a shaft which hasan eccentric portion and is journaled on said base plate, driving meansmounted on said base plate, the shaft being axially movable between anon-operating position and an operating position in which the shaft isin engagement with said driving means, urging means biasing said shafttoward said non-operating position, a rod connecting the eccentricportion of said shaft to said member, and manually actuated means formoving said shaft to said operating position, and means on said housingfor producing a noise incident to the operation of said reciprocatingmeans including a cam means on said shaft, and a reed mounted on saidhousing in such a relation to said cam means as to be oscillatedthereby.

7. A toy jet plane comprising a housing provided with a reciprocablemember extending forwardly therefrom and a base plate mounted on saidhousing, means on said housing for producing a sound effect including anelectric motor mounted on said base plate, a gear means journaled onsaid base plate in engagement with the shaft of said motor, and avibrator riding on the gear teeth of said gear means, said motor beingpowered by a series connected electric circuit including a manuallyactuated normally open switch mounted on said housing and a source ofelectric power mounted on said housing, means on said housing forreciprocating said member, including a shaft which has an eccentricportion and is journaled on said base plate, a second gear meansconnected to said shaft, said shaft being axially movable between anon-operating position and an operating position in which the secondgear means is in engagement with said first gear means, urging meansbiasing said shaft toward said non-operating position, a rod connectingthe eccentric portion of said shaft to said reciprocable member, andmanually actuated means for moving said shaft to said operatingposition, and means on said housing for producing a noise incident tothe operation of said reciprocating means including a cam means on saidshaft and a reed mounted on said housing in such a relation to said cammeans as to be oscillated thereby.

8. A toy comprising a housing, means on said housing defining the wingsof a plane, means on said housing defining the cockpit of a plane, apair of spaced apart handles extending from said housing in suchpositions as to allow the operator to support and maneuver the toy,means on said housing defining a simulated gun extending from saidhousing, means on said housing for reciprocating said gun, means on saidhousing for producing a sound simulating a firing sound incident to thereciprocation of said gun, means on said housing for producing a soundsimulating the sound of a plane engine, and means on said handles forselectively activating said gun reciprocating means and said enginesound producing means.

9. A toy plane comprising a housing provided with a reciprocable memberextending therefrom, means on said housing for reciprocating said memberincluding a shaft which has an eccentric portion and is journaled onsaid housing, a rod connecting the eccentric portion of said shaft tosaid member, drive means mounted on said housing, the shaft beingaxially movable between a non-operating position and an operatingposition in which the shaft is in engagement with said driving means,urging means biasing said shaft toward said non-operating position, andmanually actuated means for moving said shaft to said operatingposition, and means on said housing for producing a noise incident tothe operation of said reciprocating means.

10. A toy comprising a housing, means on said housing defining the wingsof a plane, means on said housing I defining the cockpit of a plane, apair of spaced apart handles extending from said housing in suchpositions as to allow the operator to maneuver the toy, means on saidhousing defining a simulated gun extending from said housing, means onsaid housing for reciprocating said gun, means on said housing forproducing a sound simulating a firing sound incident to thereciprocation of said gun, and means on said housing and positioned soas to be operable by the operator While he holds said handles forselectively actuating said gun reciprocating means.

11. A toy comprising a housing, means on said housing defining the wingsof a plane, means on said housing defining the cockpit of a plane, apair of spaced apart handles extending from said housing in suchpositions as to allow the operator to maneuver the toy, means on saidhousing defining a simulated projectile launcher and adapted to receivea simulated projectile, means on said housing for launching theprojectile from said launcher, and means on said housing and positionedso as to be operable by the operator while he holds said handles forselectively actuating said projectile launching means. 12. A toycomprising a housing, means on said housing defining the wings of aplane, means on said housing defining the cockpit of a plane, a pair ofspaced apart handles extending from said housing in such positions as toallow the operator to maneuver the toy, means on said housing defining asimulated projectile launcher and adapted to receive a simulatedprojectile, means on said housing for launching the projectile from saidlauncher, means on said housing and positioned so as to be operable bythe operator while he holds said handles for selectively actuating saidprojectile launching means. and means on said housing for producing asound simu lating the sound of a plane engine.

13. A toy comprising a housing, means on said housing defining the Wingsof a plane, means on said housing defining the cockpit of a'plane, apair of spaced apart handles extending from said housing in suchpositions as to allow the operator to maneuver the toy, means on saidhousing defining a simulated gun extending from said housing, meansonsaid housing for reciprocating said gun, means on said housing forproducing a sound simulating a firing sound incident to thereciprocation of said gun, means on said housing and positioned so as tobe operable by the operator while he holds said handles for selectivelyactuating said gun reciprocating means, and means on said housing forproducing a sound simulating the sound of a plane engine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,328,134 Doelckner Ian. 13, 1920 2,004,235 Burkhard June 11, 19352,117,597 Berger May 17, 1938 2,234,095 Stout Mar. 4, 1941 2,258,531Baldwin Oct. 7, 1941 2,346,850 Lines Apr. 18, 1944 2,784,527 Sal-E Mar.12, 1957 2,864,613 Porter s Dec. 16, 1958

